BEN Whitehead has committed himself to helping Wantage Town preserve their Evo-Stik Southern League status after rejecting a move from local rivals Didcot Town.

The two sides meet in Division 1 South & West tomorrow, with new boss Stuart Cattell taking charge of his first south Oxfordshire derby after he was handed the role permanently this week.

Defender Sam Collier and former New College Swindon manager Rob Hopkins will be his assistants.

And Cattell, out of the side himself with a thigh injury, feels the striker could prove pivotal to their survival hopes.

“We were a bit worried that he might leave, so it’s a massive boost to us that he’s decided to stay,” said Cattell.

“He’s going to be a big player for us in the relegation fight and I think his goals could make the difference come the end of the season.

“I did say to him the other day, ‘I want to see you on Saturday, but in green and white, not in red’, so I’m just relieved that will be the case.”

Karl Evans and Jake Johns return for the Alfredians.

Former Wantage striker George Reid is set to face his old side after netting twice on his Didcot debut in their stunning 5-1 win at Winchester City on Wednesday evening.

Two more goals from Luke Carnell and a Graham Edney strike earned Andy Ballard his first victory as manager, but it was the 19-year-old new arrival from Abingdon United who won all the plaudits.

“He wasn’t actually expected to play, but his circumstances changed and he put in an amazing performance,” said Ballard.

“We threw him into it at Winchester and he responded with two absolute wonder goals, so he’s a real prospect.”

George Jeacock has returned to Oxford United and been loaned to Farnborough, while Mark Francis and Jack Powell remain out with knee injuries.

But Didcot are boosted by the return of defender Jack Longford from suspension.

Banbury United are without Ricky Johnson (unavailable) and Louis Joyce (suspended) as they travel to Tiverton Town, while North Leigh host Bishops Cleeve.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Wantage Tn (v Didcot Tn, home): from Cavanagh, H Whitehead, Elliott, Collier, Carbon, Thorne, Deabill, B Whitehead, Glover, Clark, McGlynn, Hulbert-Thomas, Ferris, Barder, Evans, Johns.

Didcot Tn (v Wantage Tn, away): from Bedwell, Learoyd, Organ, Carnell, Amadeu, Ballard, Longford, Janes, Edney, Woodley, Williams, Dutton-Black, Collins, Thompson, Powell, Gannon, Hayday, Reid.

Banbury Utd (v Tiverton Tn, away): from Harding, White, Steedman, Martin, Wise, Westbrook, Gunn, Stanbridge, Bell, Browne, Nash, Howards, McEachran, Blackstock, Kalakoutis, Welch-Hayes.